U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak met for talks expected to sidestep past differences and focus on ridding the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons and promoting free trade.
The two leaders were expected to present a united front on the need to set up a process for verifying details of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, which is being dismantled, before Pyongyang can receive additional benefits.Bush said during a press conference with lee that strong verification of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme was necessary to address concerns about it.
The united states with China, Russia, South Korea and Japan have been negotiating for years with Pyongyang, offering economic and humanitarian aid in exchange for the reclusive government giving up its nuclear ambitions.
Bush then addressed U.S. soldiers at an army garrison in the middle of the capital and command centre for some 28,000 American troops stationed in the country to defend against any attack from the north. Earlier in the day, a small group of anti-U.S. protesters gathered near the presidential office in Seoul to denounce bush's visit to the country.
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